It looks like Google isn't wasting any time laying down a support infrastructure for its new set-top box push. Just one day after the shiny new Nexus Player officially went on sale, the YouTube app for Android TV has been published in the Play Store to enable easy updates without a firmware upgrade. If you happen to be one of the few people with an ADT-1 developer unit from Google I/O or you got lucky with an early delivery of the Nexus Player, you should see the update automatically.

As far as the actual update is concerned, it doesn't add much: YouTube video recommendations have been added to the homescreen, but based on the screenshots in our own Nexus Player review, they seem to be there already. And YouTube results will now appear in the system-wide search, which might be useful for those totally legal uploads of re-dubbed Japanese cartoons. If you're still waiting on your Nexus Player to arrive (which, as far as we can tell, is almost everyone who ordered one so far), expect to see an automatic download when you sign in with your Google account.

Naturally you can't download the app from the separate Play Store listing on anything except an Android TV device. Expect updates to both the app and platform as Google hammers out the initial bugs.

In theory, since you can build apps for Android TV, you can have content playing directly from the device. I can see this being a big advantage for games (in case there's any doubt about why there's a separately sold controller).

Completely agree. Having separate listings in the play store for same app just doesn't make sense. Ideally the listing in the play store should be just one. And then depending on the device you are requesting from, it should install correct APK. One problem with this approach is reviews and ratings.

mark

For TV yes, but phones/tablets are the same kind of device (except for the former also doing traditional phone calls). If you mean larger devices, Google Play already marks applications as being "designed for", though it seems a bit of a hack that doesn't always work, and it's difficult when there are not two kinds of devices, but a continuum of sizes.

And still no material YouTube, my Nexus 9 is due to arrive today so that's disappointing, and let's not forget hangouts.

AbbyZFresh

i personally dont want another youtube redesign. they have done too much of that over the past 2 years.

Ryan

That's a terrible philosophy, just because there have been quite a few updates doesn't mean there shouldn't be more. Let's be honest it could certainly be improved with a visual makeover and it also isn't the most reliable app. Hangouts and YouTube should be number 1 priority for me now (behind L it's self obviously).

Đức Thành

She's just too lazy to update the apps but she feels the pressure to do it to get the latest trends and understand what people are talking about so she prefer people not updating it any more, simple.

But @Abby, that's unreasonable to ask of people just for your personal reasons, so please choose either: making an effort to update to the newest versions of the apps, or stop stressing yourself (and by extension other people) for the fact that you do not want to do so. Because, you know, nobody's forcing you to use the latest apps. Simple.

Justin W

Mine was due to arrive today as well, at least, until I received a "your order was delayed" email from Amazon :(.

Jell-O

Who read the name of the video in the second pic as 'Masturbate' XD !!

eliseo

"Google publishes"...

Heart Stop...

"The YouTube..."

It makes me sad...

John

APK download? :)

eliseo

#SoonBackAnswer

Joseph Lampke

I would seriously love an APK for this... I'd like to see if my old Google TV can run it.
It's definitely showing its age, though :(

There will be no more Google apps from now on that look completely distinct from one another no matter what platform the apps are on.

mark

Which is rather nonsensical - I mean, the good side of material design is trying to make Android applications look consistent. But if Google are going to push material design on other platforms, completely ignoring other guidelines, why should they expect other software companies to follow material design when publishing on Android...

rmkilc

I don't get it. Shouldn't it just be the YouTube app? A single app, that has phone/tablet/TV layouts?? Just like apps for Android Wear and Auto are not separate apps.

sweenish

I agree.

But Youtube has always been kind of, special.

rmkilc

Way to lead by example Google.

Matthew Apostolou

Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that all Google core products are now lead by Sundar Pichai, with the exception of youtube (still managed by Susan Wojcicki) :)

John Smith

No it shouldn't, because :
1) The TV apps need to be approved before being published
2) Additional TV resources overhead that would just bloat the APK for the phone

abobobilly

God forbid. If that happens, then you'd get the same experience on that big ass screen of TV, as you get on your phone. Just like the experience on an Android Tablet, which is just like an oversized phone, and doesn't really have "tablet" support with "tablet" apps (to utilize more space).

rmkilc

No, you misunderstand how Android apps work. The apps you refer to simply lack a proper tablet layout. Treat TV like Android Wear and Android Auto.

abobobilly

Oh right. You were only saying to "combine the package". Right? Well i'd have to agree with that. There shouldn't be a separate app, like Amazon's new app has a separate app for Tablet and a separate one for Phones.

Mayoo

Dammit I thought this was YouTube material update :(

SpanishAbh

me too :(

Luca

Apk?

Jacob Driessel

Will this work on gtv?

Wher’sMyLollipop

I think material apps (like this) need android 4.0 at least.
But i may be wrong.
I think it shoul work on a Phone/Tablet with 4.0 and higher.
But again. Who knows without apk.

Jacob Driessel

I believe my TV is 4.2. But all my updates come from lg. So probably won't happen, would be nice to update outside of firmware.

ernesto

I would like to try this on my Android Box, or my tablet (until i can buy a nexus player in my country:-)
But it say's "This App is not compatible with your device"
Is there an apk available?
Or are the "not lucky owners" of an nexs player (like me) not alowed to try the app?

did Google says WEEKS instead of DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! flood of Tears

Elad Avron

So far it says "Incompatible" even for an Android TV running on an emulator (probably BECAUSE it's on an emulator. Gonna try fiddling a little more).

TheBeard

From what i read somwhere, on google tv u had an normal Play Store (like on a Phone or Tablet),
but u only could get Apps 'for Google TV' becouse the android on google tv have a file wich identifies the box as Google TV,
I think same it's on a tablet. U can't download some Apps made for Phones becouse Play Store identifies the device (trough a file or something) as a Tablet.
And who published the app(s), only made it available for Phones (becouse the wanted or forgotten to check for tablets also when uploading:-)

Some china android boxe's are beeing somehow idetified from Play Store as Google TV. Becouse that file was modificated (i guess).
Watching reviews of some android boxe's on youtube, i saw some of them showing like 'Pandora for Google TV' 'Blabla for Google TV' on Play Store,
instead phone or tablet version.

So maybe your emulator is not 'defined' as android tv. Or as adt-1 android tv, only as 'Unknown device' android tv, (u can see that in settings).

P.S
Google should make (at least) this-App available for all user (who want it) becouse they only can win from this (MORE ppl watching youtube Adds).
Becouse youtube/tv is also say'ing me now 'not available on your device'.

I go watch some youtube trough mms until then.
:-)

Spence1115

Wonder if the APK would work on my Fire TV...

TechJunkie198

one day after the nexus player went is sale..? Who's selling it today? Maybe you're confusing the 9 release yesterday.

Alan Shannon

I wonder is this hinting as to what the new YouTube app with Material Design will looklike?

Mikesphoneandtab

Can we get an apk? I'd love to try this on my 12 inch Note Pro.

Mikesphoneandtab

CTRL+F apk

master94

Can someone send me the apk? I'm visiting a country without play store